TV Review: ‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Season 3, Episode 13 Has Omega Fill A New Role
by Frank Martin
It’s clear that Star Wars: The Bad Batch is definitely ramping up for their finale. But they’re not going to give fans exactly what they want just yet. Like a chess match, the story is placing certain characters in certain positions and getting them ready for a big climax. This episode had the Bad Batch more or less conducting a mission towards that goal. It was standard Star Wars action and enjoyable along the way. But where this episode really shines is seeing how Omega (Michelle Ang) interacts with the Force sensitive children. It takes her out of her usual elements and puts her in a new type of situation that expands her character in ways she hadn’t before.
After Echo (Dee Bradley Baker) rejoins the rest of the Bad Batch, they use Rampart (Noshir Dalal) to steal a piece of equipment that will allow them to infiltrate where Omega is being held. Meanwhile, Omega tries to settle into her new role among the Force sensitive children that are being experimented on. These children are essentially broken, but Omega is a fighter who won’t give up so easy. She scouts the area and immediately begins planning her escape, having the children help her in this endeavor.
For much of the series, Omega is the underdog. She’s placed in a group of seasoned soldiers who are constantly in danger, and the question of whether or not she can hold her own is brought up repeatedly. But every time, Omega proves her worth and how she’s a real asset in conflict. This situation flips the script. Omega is no longer the underdog. She is the leader and the ones the children look to for guidance, support, and encouragement. This is a completely different role for her, but she fills it perfectly. It’s unclear whether or not the Omega audiences met in the first season would have been this confident and skilled at planning an escape. But she’s here now, and it’s a treat to watch.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch streams Wednesdays on Disney+.